DEBATE CONTINUES OVER DRUG PROVISION

Students have different opinions about the drug provision being repealed.

On Feb. 13, House Representative Barney Frank (D-MA) along with 38
co-sponsors reintroduced H.R. 685, a bill that would repeal the Higher
Education Act Drug Provision.

In 1998, a drug provision was introduced that blocked financial aid to
students revealing drug convictions on their Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Since that time, roughly 100,000 students were
denied financial aid. In this year alone, roughly 25,000 students were
denied financial aid by answering "yes" to the drug question (#35) on the
FAFSA form.

The Coalition for Higher Education Act Reform (CHEAR) has been working hard
to repeal the Drug Provision. CHEAR is targeting the drug provision because
it has many negative effects. The provision hurts low-income families, and
students don't receive the drug rehabilitation programs they need. The drug
provision is making it harder for young adults to receive higher education
although the entire purpose for the Federal Aid Program is to help young
adults go to college.

Ben Gaines, coordinator for CHEAR, said he hopes that the bill will be passed.

"We were expecting the repeal but with the conservative dominance in
Congress its going to be an up-hill battle with a lot of hard work," Gaines
said.

At CHEAR's headquarters is in Washington D.C., they are working closely
with congress to see that the bill is passed.

"We worked closely with House Representative Barney Frank and he was eager
to reintroduce the bill," Gaines said.

A lot of students have different opinions about the drug provision being
repealed.

The annual Student Summit was last Thursday. President Irvin D. Reid said
that tuition was definitely going to increase dramatically for next year
because of the state budget deficit. Federal financial aid is very
important to many students right now.

At the Student Summit, Student Council President Tiffany Moss had mix
feelings about the drug provision.

"When people are young they make mistakes, I don't think its fair to punish
them twice by giving them a drug conviction and deny them financial aid as
well," Moss said.

Carol Barrett, majoring in pre-nursing, feels that the drug provision
should not be repealed.

"If you put yourself in the situation you should pay the consequences,"
Barrett said.

Barrett also said drug tests should be done to keep track of who currently
does drugs and the people who no longer use them. The people who no longer
use drugs can receive financial aid.

"They should not deny financial aid because there are low-income families
that need the help," Barrett's friend and classmate Julia Micallef said.

Dahlia Abrams, member of Hillel at Wayne State University, feels that all
students should have an equal opportunity for federal financial aid.

"I do not think it is fair to take away these student's opportunity for
financial aid. Hopefully, those who have been convicted of a drug offense
have learned from their mistakes, and are attempting to better themselves.
Every student in need should get a fair chance for financial aid," Abrams said.

The Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) has worked closely with CHEAR
to see the Higher Education Drug Provision removed. SSDP is an organization
that provides education on the problems caused by the war on drugs.

SSDP encourages students to get involved with the political process and to
have open discussions for alternate ways to solving the nation's drug
problem. Since the drug provision of 1998, SSPD has become a nation-wide
campus organization.

SSDP has 200 college and high school chapters across the nation, including
one at WSU.

In the past, SSDP students have convinced their schools to give
scholarships and loan programs to help the students who were denied
financial aid due to the Drug Provision.

"We are planning congressional visits and rallies on over 100 college
campuses this spring to educate greater numbers of legislators about the
harmful impact of the Higher Education Act Drug Provision," said Shawn
Heller, National Director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

SSDP plans to gain 24 additional co-sponsors to help congress pass the bill.